Superstitious officials have no place in society

A Chinese netizen looks at a photo of Zhu Mingguo, former head of the political advisory body in south China's Guangdong province, on the website of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) in Tianjin, China, 28 November 2014. [Photo/IC]

Years before being removed for suspected "serious discipline and law violations" last November, Zhu Mingguo, former chairman of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, reportedly prostrated before qigong "master" Wang Lin to thank him for a big favor. Wang is believed to have used his connections with some government officials, not his self-proclaimed superpowers, to help Zhu keep his post in Hainan province, where he was reported to have taken bribes and cheated on his wife. Zhu was transferred from the island province in 2001. Comments:

To some extent, Zhu cuts a pathetic figure, because the "master" he worshiped turned out to be a crook who favored him by pulling strings. By prostrating before a charlatan, Zhu exposed his superstitious beliefs and shamed himself.

cjn.cn, May 21

Superstitious officials like Zhu are either intellectually challenged or trying to divert public attention from their misdeeds. The same applies to those public servants who kowtow before impostors like Wang. It is sad that their superstitious beliefs usually go unnoticed until they are removed from their posts for corruption.

Beijing Youth Daily, May 21

Indeed, "Master Wang" was skilled in deceiving and manipulating officials at all levels with his self-proclaimed "supernatural powers". What is worse is that a host of power abusers prostrated before Wang and even allowed him to carry on his manipulations. In effect, the superstitious officials were misusing public power in order to protect Wang's tricks as well as their ill-gotten wealth and corrupt activities.

Hangzhou Daily, May 21